How tap dancing was made in America

Imported from immigrants, but assembled in America.
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Tap dancing originated in America. It's a mix of several dance styles-Irish jigging, British clogging, and the percussive steps from African dance. Tap dancing can be traced back to Five Points, now known as Chinatown in New York city. Tap dance also has its roots in minstrel shows, where it was viewed as American comedy. In the 70s, tap dancing legends, Jane Goldberg and Brenda Bufalino took tap from the bright show tune lights of Broadway back to a place of self expression.
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[@ChefkochTony]

Vox answers your questions you never knew about having them

[@rnqtn]

So true.

[@really.not.important]

When they're not shilling

[@Thing82liker]

Anton Gőlz I like how they touch topics that no one would ever care about, but afterward we want to care about it. Like tap dancing😄

[@ChefkochTony]

***** sorry, English is my 3rd language

[@rnqtn]

MoonMC Videos, Exactly. Which is why I love them xD

[@JennieWrenStar]

You made me smile on a very sad day here in the UK. Thank you

[@max10dler]

That dude in the beginning was doing wings, man! Those are SO annoying to do, I can't do them and I've been trying for ages.

[@ryan_alexander]

He was, but he had pretty bad form. Unless he was hinged over for stylistic effect, they looked pretty ugly

[@paigesmid9514]

He delayed his second foot. It makes it look harder but it is so much easier. He basically cheated. Wings are hard, and if his wings weren't delayed his form would have been much better.

[@janekuper6548]

@@paigesmid9514 He was doing a 4 count wing. They're harder not easier

[@mayochupenjoyer]

@Ryan Alexander Music in purely rhythm-focused tap dancing, the upper body doesn’t matter, only the sounds do

[@dominus9335]

And that's the beauty of it: A language everyone understands, and is brought to life anew with every artist.

[@brettflower8058]

I wondered why It's fascinated me since I was a kid, took my first class at 35.. so excited I'm buying shoe's today

[@curiouslyt2123]

Drums were actually banned, wow. We still had our bodies and feet though didn’t we!

[@Ronaldo-rt7hl]

exactly 💯‼️

[@noirekuroraigami2270]

That’s why African American music/dancing is so different from Caribbean and S. American

[@ctcmonk]

VOX... if you're reading these comments could you guys do something on the influence New Orleans has had on popular music.. considering We are the founding place of jazz.. (buddy bolden) Blues (all along the Mississippi delta) Rock and Roll (fats domino) , Elvis and the Beatles Also attest to this... Fats was also credited by Bob Marley as being the starting point for reggae music... New Orleans also being the permanent home of brass band (second line) music ... I think our major contribution often gets overlooked...

[@thefakedeal]

Rich Harrow would love to watch that

[@kalaiselvi5505]

Love a music related videos from Vox anyday. Especially, the breakdowns, explanations, origins, influences, etc. Do it, Vox

[@bumpin9086]

I would love to see that

[@cmooreHD]

Rich Harrow wow! You just saying this little piece even educated me! Vox NEEDS to do this!

[@rnqtn]

I was gonna watch a trending video of an old woman being exposed as a fake homeless woman but this seemed more interesting. Edit: holy crap it got deleted!

[@EliasBorchert]

Dream Big I watched it. It wasn't really anything special

[@Tombee2]

Dream Big *WAIT REALLY!?*

[@rnqtn]

Tombee 123, Are you being sarcastic or is that a real "WAIT REALLY?" Cause if so then yes it was deleted. I wonder why though...

[@kyletomlinson5365]

It says youtube removed it because it violated their policy on harassment and bullying

[@rnqtn]

Kyle Tomlinson, Mm. Go figure. Well it's probably trending on Facebook or Instagram. It wasn't very interesting anyways.

[@princeshezy007]

3:54 *E X T R A T H I C C*

[@TheIndogamer]

Lost Potato *2thicc4me*

[@OpticSamurai24]

Lost Potato... Damn... You weren't joking... Nice

[@joaquinclavijo7052]

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

[@flurgle]

As a Brazilian, I approve

[@saami9606]

Lost Potato SAMURAI JACK!!

[@tomek1678]

Music is too loud in some sense

[@xenoliving3951]

The tap music was never loud enough.

[@tomek1678]

But when people were talking, the music covered the speech

[@flamecranium7787]

*scenes*

[@williamrudebusch7850]

did they cut the description of other dance moves? this is the "shim sham" END OF STORY. anyway, cool video.

[@xenoliving3951]

Lol, right? Even then, I didn't really get what the shim sham was

[@BR-jt6ny]

the animation was too choppy, I couldn't follow it either

[@djdedan]

Did they show it? They must've took it out... PUT IT BACK IN

[@alejandropeca7515]

nicely done! I love pretty much when in dances, fusions start to take shape, in spite of the fight it entails. In the long run, very nice things emerge. It unites us. I consider, however important, as this micro-documentary did, to mention the origins of a dance style (people, locations, etc), so that dancers and/or listeners have a sort of higher-enjoyment. But also, to avoid historical falsification and 'cultural appropriation' (I have problems with this term, but it does a good service here).

[@TwoStupidTeens1]

This made me feel cool about being a jazz musician and a tap dancer

[@Kamoblue]

DISCUSSING TAP AND NO GREGORY HINES, SAMMY DAVIS JR, OR SAVION GLOVER???

[@bellumsemper2654]

Jüdah Levi Montana The lack of name dropping is almost criminal

[@jeanjones5550]

And no Ray Bolger. He is the reason I am interested in tap dancing.

[@ireland776]

the "jig" referenced is actually sean-nós which is the traditional form of dance in Ireland.

[@Bcorcoran100]

Which they stole from African-Americans....

[@ahmedshahien1148]

I like vox production value keep it up guys

[@mustafakeblawi6450]

the music is too loud it makes it hard to listen

[@davidb5205]

I agree. For some reason all the voices were really soft and low and the music was loud.

[@fordhouse8b]

More importantly, it drowned out the actual sounds of the tap dancing itself. They describe the tap dancers as musicians, yet obscured 'their' music with an intrusive soundtrack.

[@Nolina99]

Tap dancing is so hypnotic! Thanks for making this video :D

[@damienscullytoo]

Its a shame vox never mentioned that Sean-nós has been practised before America was even a thing. It without a doubt was the biggest influence on Tap Dancing yet not even a mention.

[@smacforbes]

They loosely reference it a "irish jigging"

[@jonovids3322]

Bro I wish they mentioned Gregory Hines, Sammy Davis Jr, Gene Kelly, Sherlie temple, bill bojangles, and a lot lot more people

[@Woozyfo]

You could just call it "How Tap Dancing Was Made". But there's always someone complaining in the comments when something's too "American Centric" so good choice.

[@alittlebitoftoday7809]

❤️ I still casually tap dance sometimes... literally a couple of days ago before I started actually working, I felt the need to bust a step which turned into a few steps lol

[@docbrown2020]

these are the videos I want from Vox

[@noelharris7329]

I love hearing about white and black people working together and dancing together.

[@victoriathegreencheekconur5477]

Tap dance: no Hot potato with the floor: yes

[@lazyperfectionist1]

"Say, now. That's a pretty good _sound_ you got out of them tappers." "Yeah. Especially considering they were tap dancing with _moccasins_ on _dirt."_

[@Dev1nci]

4:35 and they’re also like,’Pick it up! Pick it up! Pick it up!’ After they knock your lunch onto the floor.

[@Dubediton7]

this and learning to play the piano are just some the things i want to learn.

[@cornkopp2985]

tap dancing and banjos, American art at it's best.

[@bellumsemper2654]

Corn Kopp D. Ray White. The most West-Virginian Mountain Dancer you'll ever see

[@JABOWEN]

Corn Kopp both from Africa.

[@cornkopp2985]

both created out of a cultural mixture of immigrants living in america

[@JABOWEN]

Corn Kopp the banjo is directly from west africa,no collaborative effort there, just nigerian ingenuity google it! :) and tap dance as we know it today was a development of African slaves dancing out african rhythms with feet instead of drums. there is only 2 or 3 steps of Irish influence. but nonetheless it is a combination and FOR everyone

[@JABOWEN]

Corn Kopp the banjo is directly from west africa,no collaborative effort there, just nigerian ingenuity google it! :) and tap dance as we know it today was a development of African slaves dancing out african rhythms with feet instead of drums. there is only 2 or 3 steps of Irish influence. but nonetheless it is a combination and FOR everyone

[@TapDanceExchange]

The great Tap Dance! An American born art form just like Breaking! 👊🏻

[@sup8437]

Im so happy you differentiated between broadway and rhythm tap.

[@1MJfollower]

You guys forgot to duck the audio behind the music for a few scenes

[@RestoreSanityFear]

You guys should do a piece on capoeira. It is another beautiful and creative form of dance.

[@gothamonline6084]

Ahhhh.... Vox at its best. Neo-liberals or not, Vox makes me smile more often than cringe. Started in 5 Points? Awesome, Vox! 'The percussive dances that nurture tap came from African ceremonies, Irish jigging, and British clogging. [Then] Irish people worked side by side.' MORE, MORE, MORE!!!

[@gothamonline6084]

Good. That's what it was intended to do. Get your head out of kale and understand America's working class has had enough.

[@BlackStarrSoul]

The New York Progressive Alliance I'm not white.

[@gothamonline6084]

Thank you for sharing something of substance. Keep the brilliance coming - we're all waiting for your next moment of brilliance online.

[@tulikukka1043]

"One of the first original Americal art forms"? I'm sorry, but I feel like we're forgetting that art existed even before Columbus...

[@santerihiitola]

VOX please make a video about what's happening in Philippines. And Venezuela. The world must know.

[@PolycarpMedia]

You guys should mix your audio better. A lot of your interviews are getting lost behind the music.

[@NickGhale]

Vox - giving you the answers to questions you never knew existed

[@KismetandKarma]

Tap was around since the 1600's in the US.

[@ervin9880]

if only i can double tap this video, to show my appreciation :D

[@isabelaoliveira9270]

I wish this video was a little longer.

[@DI-tj3lb]

Is it just me, or does New York starts everything?!!

[@Angela-vl8yw]

It doesn't. For example, the cultural exchanges between Irish dancers and African dancers were happening in other places, like the Caribbean and the South. The rhythmic dance done in, say, Appalachia is not likely from NY but directly from Irish and African people who never even saw New York. But since a lot of media is produced in New York, a lot of history becomes NYcentric.

[@Mrdefa1]

"I said 'Step pause turn pause pivot step step,' not "Step pause turn pause pivot step pause!'.

[@tropezando]

"We don't count, we just do it rhythmically" Is rhythm not periodic? Isn't that what counting is meant to assist?

[@djdedan]

It was a silly comment but i think what she was trying to say is one style is a lot more regimented while out side of studios people just do what looks good and feels good... style is more important than form, if that makes sense... but that's my 2 cents i'm sure someone who has lived in the studio world could answer better

[@jgauth2]

They say tap is about music then cover the tapping with music so we barely hear it- remove the audio layer so we aren't just seeing feet flying with no noise

[@MrDanielZie]

Yeah, tap dancing really is music.. that's why we chose to show next to no footage with sound open.

[@emmaswan6219]

Proud tap dancer over here 💃

[@PinkPine4pples]

Basically, tap dancing is an extention of Clogging.

[@shailenehawthorn157]

Well, this was a nice break from politics and all that crap.

[@smokeyjail4394]

That Brazilian chica around 4:00 though 😉 But seriously, I've always been enthralled by tap dancing since I was a kid. Thanks for reminding me that it's on my bucket list Vox!

[@Chxn10]

I never knew tap dancing had African roots too! I only thought it was European.

[@DianeJasmine]

sometimes they remove the tap solos from musical soundtracks and I'm always so offended

[@211teitake]

This one seems half-baked.

[@Deadlyaztec27]

I think what holds tap dancing from most young people is the specialized footwear.

[@likhithchandragiri6245]

How are there no comments yet?

[@gpdewitt]

They missed my favorite, Gregory Hines in Tap (1989), an amazing, digital audio enhanced performance. Copyright issues?

[@Mikeybuttz]

I wish you didn't play music over everyone tapping. You're saying this dance is so great lemme hear it!

[@taitheguy85]

OMG! @3:51 she's definitely channeling Sumthin from brazil

[@Bram06]

It'd be great if the background music in this video was tap instead of this

[@TraciMann]

Cooool!!!!! Love this, keep it going!!!!

[@xxAnaconta]

Ahh yes tap dancing, one of the milestones of western civilizations.

[@gradymitchell2412]

Vox, you should also look into Street Tap as well, as that is a major sub-genre of tap that has returned to the original roots of tap being more about the sound and rhythm.

[@JABOWEN]

GradyMitchell tap is tap, there is not "street tap" tap started in the streets, that's a redundant statement.

[@korakys]

It just occurred to me that people might not be familiar with tap dancing.

[@kirstenclow1467]

This makes me miss my ten years of tap class... :/

[@lolkayleen2757]

Nah man musical theater tap all the way 😂👯‍♀️

[@Saxshoe]

You don't count, you just do it rhythmically

[@abrodsky]

these are the vox videos I subscribe to not the stupid political videos I deal with enough politics anyways.

[@maxz1287]

I love tap dance please do more videos like this!!

[@reagan2976]

Dude the shim sham is my ish

[@NotHPotter]

I'm curious to know how, if at all, tap dancing connects to bboying.

[@catied2944]

I bet these people are really good at dance dance revolution.

[@ProfessorEGadd]

If you spend too much time on the internet you eventually come across a comment accusing Americans of having no culture, to which the inevitable response is McDonalds, Hollywood, Coca Cola... products, brands. Why do non-Americans have no clear picture of American culture, and why do Americans do such a bad job defending it?

[@chitchatcharlie]

I like your videos Vox, but I can barely hear the narrating because the music is so loud :/

[@jzplayinggame]

Why use a background track for nearly the entire video? Let's hear the tap dancing!!!

[@diresalope]

Does a segment about tapping... cranks up background music and drowns out tappers... :/

[@Tazolad]

Probably the best thing thats ever been made by America

[@fillman86]

if you need an editor that has training in mixing audio levels properly, then I'm your man, because I'm in need of work!

[@spoddie]

For a video on tap dancing there's a surprising lack of tapping, we don't hear any of the tapping we see.

[@Diegopaess]

There's something off with the sound. Sometimes it is hard to understand what is being said because the music seems too loud.

[@tapdancetaiwan836]

tap is awesome ! amazing and make ppl feel happy ~

[@chainsawteddybear]

THANK YOU

[@tadnauseum]

You jumped from the 1970s to 2017? Bring Da Noise Bring Da Funk won a Tony in-between those dates, in case accurate representation is something Vox wants to try out.

[@bhestonmusic]

An interpolation of "Lost Ones" by Lauryn Hill at the end, don't think we don't know Vox!

[@stephenhope7090]

Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars

[@capriphonix8863]

Please do a video on competitive Ballroom dance!

[@yoonha-tapdance]

👍

[@reycamilox]

Would have been great to hear some tap at some point in the video. It all has music on top.

[@iHaveContrl]

For some reason I always thought of tap dancing is originated from Ireland or something....oh well

[@vittoprince]

Tap dancing answers the question: how can you make noisy shoe tapping into an art form?

[@landon7612]

Poppy invented tap dancing

[@Anticrystal88]

Interesting, but the music is mixed too loud, making it hard to hear the voices.

[@ricochetsixtyten]

Quit markin up my floor, yo

[@radamadah]

I've never seen a Flamenco show, so obviously tap dancing is American.

[@denolaj]

Huh, surprised that Flamenco music was not an influence!

[@notawake38]

Omg, this is scary bc i literally broke out into a tap dance in front of my friends randomly today

[@dismaldice3045]

"Irish and black people worked side by side."

[@themasstermwahahahah]

Is anyone a fan of Gus from Psych?

[@francisgerasi4547]

omegadan lol

[@bellumsemper2654]

omegadan That episode of psych was a favor for the actor since he is a tap dancer. They even brought on Jason Samuels Smith (one of the best in the world). That was one of the few instances on TV where hoofing was shown in all its glory

[@sejuti8367]

Hahah yes was practically looking for this comment

[@nobodyreally1361]

THE OLD HOOFERS

[@IAmCreatureMedia]

the music is too loud and the narration isnt loud enough but good info-video

[@tonynicholas5539]

You left out Cathie Nicholas, granddaughter of Fayard Nicholas of the Nicholas Brothers

[@cj6838]

Make tap dancing great again

[@DamienLaRocque]

You forgot that tap dancing also originates from the French Canadian who established in New England during the 19th century for working in the textile industry. The French Canadian were tap dancing while being seated since the 18th century. These seated tap dancers are now called "gigueux" or sometimes "steppeux" (who are doing "steppettes" or "steps").

[@JABOWEN]

that is not tap dance, that's a completely different form

[@JABOWEN]

that is not tap dance, that's a completely different form